Objective: To characterize the presence, extent, and patterns of dynamic hyperinflation (DH) during treadmill exercise testing in patients with moderate to severe COPD. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 30 non-hypoxemic patients (FEV1= 43 ± 14% of predicted) who were submitted to a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a treadmill at a constant speed (70-80% of maximum speed) to the tolerance limit (Tlim). Serial inspiratory capacity (IC) maneuvers were used in order to assess DH. Results: Of the 30 patients studied, 19 (63.3%) presented with DH (DH+ group), having greater pulmonary function impairment at rest than did those without DH (DH− group). None of the variables studied correlated with exercise tolerance in the DH− group, whereas Tlim, IC, and perception of dyspnea during exercise did so correlate in the DH+ group (p < 0.05). In the DH+ group, 7 and 12 patients, respectively, presented with a progressive and a stable pattern of DH (ΔICTlim,2min = −0.28 ± 0.11 L vs. 0.04 ± 0.10 L; p < 0.01). Patients with a progressive pattern of DH presented with higher perception of dyspnea/Tlim rate and lower exercise tolerance than did those with a stable pattern (354 ± 118 s and 465 ± 178 s, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The presence of DH is not a universal phenomenon during walking in COPD patients, even in those with moderate to severe airflow limitation. In the patients who presented DH, a progressive pattern of DH had a greater impact on exercise tolerance than did a stable pattern of DH.

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Exercise; Exercise test; Inspiratory capacity.

Objective: To investigate the modulatory effects that dynamic hyperinflation (DH), defined as a reduction in inspiratory capacity (IC), has on exercise tolerance after bronchodilator in patients with COPD. Methods: An experimental, randomized study involving 30 COPD patients without severe hypoxemia. At baseline, the patients underwent clinical assessment, spirometry, and incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). On two subsequent visits, the patients were randomized to receive a combination of inhaled fenoterol/ipratropium or placebo. All patients then underwent spirometry and submaximal CPET at constant speed up to the limit of tolerance (Tlim). The patients who showed ΔIC(peak-rest) < 0 were considered to present with DH (DH+). Results: In this sample, 21 patients (70%) had DH. The DH+ patients had higher airflow obstruction and lower Tlim than did the patients without DH (DH−). Despite equivalent improvement in FEV1 after bronchodilator, the DH− group showed higher ΔIC(bronchodilator-placebo) at rest in relation to the DH+ group (p < 0.05). However, this was not found in relation to ΔIC at peak exercise between DH+ and DH− groups (0.19 ± 0.17 L vs. 0.17 ± 0.15 L, p > 0.05). In addition, both groups showed similar improvements in Tlim after bronchodilator (median [interquartile range]: 22% [3-60%] vs. 10% [3-53%]; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Improvement in TLim was associated with an increase in IC at rest after bronchodilator in HD− patients with COPD. However, even without that improvement, COPD patients can present with greater exercise tolerance after bronchodilator provided that they develop DH during exercise.

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Bronchodilator agents; Exercise test; Exercise tolerance; Inspiratory capacity.

Objective: To assess and compare the prevalence of comorbidities and risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in COPD patients according to disease severity. Methods: The study included 25 patients with mild-to-moderate COPD (68% male; mean age, 65 ± 8 years; mean FEV1, 73 ± 15% of predicted) and 25 with severe-to-very severe COPD (males, 56%; mean age, 69 ± 9 years; mean FEV1, 40 ± 18% of predicted). Comorbidities were recorded on the basis of data obtained from medical charts and clinical evaluations. Comorbidities were registered on the basis of data obtained from medical charts and clinical evaluations. The Charlson comorbidity index was calculated, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score was determined. Results: Of the 50 patients evaluated, 38 (76%) had been diagnosed with at least one comorbidity, 21 (42%) having been diagnosed with at least one CVD. Twenty-four patients (48%) had more than one CVD. Eighteen (36%) of the patients were current smokers, 10 (20%) had depression, 7 (14%) had dyslipidemia, and 7 (14%) had diabetes mellitus. Current smoking, depression, and dyslipidemia were more prevalent among the patients with mild-to-moderate COPD than among those with severe-to-very severe COPD (p < 0.001, p = 0.008, and p = 0.02, respectively). The prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, ischemic heart disease, and chronic heart failure was comparable between the two groups. The Charlson comorbidity index and HADS scores did not differ between the groups. Conclusions: Comorbidities are highly prevalent in COPD, regardless of its severity. Certain risk factors for CVD, themselves classified as diseases (including smoking, dyslipidemia, and depression), appear to be more prevalent in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD.

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Spirometry; Cardiovascular diseases; Risk factors.

Background: This study evaluated the perception of airway obstruction in moderate to severely asthmatic outpatients and the efficiency of chest auscultation in identifying airflow limitation. Methods: 33 subjects were evaluated at seven weekly visits by using symptoms scores determined by visual analogue scales (VAS, 0-100 mm), a clinical index of bronchial hyperreactivity (1-10), the clinical classification of asthma severity (GINA, 1-4) and a thoracic auscultation score (TAS, 0-5), spirometry and peak expiratory flow (PEF), which were correlated by the coefficient of Spearman. Patients were classified as perceivers (-1 £ r < 0) or nonperceivers (0 £ r £ 1) by correlations between VAS for dyspnoea and FEV1. A correlation between auscultation and bronchial obstruction was considered accurate when a r £ -0.5 (TAS vs. FEV1) was found. Results: Seventeen asthmatic patients (51.5%) did not accurately perceive the degree of their airways obstruction (nonperceivers). No clinical characteristics distinguished the groups. Only 39.4% of the individual correlations between TAS and FEV1 indicated accurate discrimination by auscultation. Severe asthma was not associated with inaccurate auscultation nor with malperception in this study. Conclusions: A significant proportion of this sample of asthmatic patients did not accurately perceive their own airway obstruction. Moreover, chest examination was shown to be an unsuitable discriminator of airflow limitation in moderate to severe stable asthmatics in an outpatient clinic.

Keywords: Asthma. Airway obstruction. Auscultation. Lung obstructive diseases.

Objective: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) improves exercise capacity in most but not all COPD patients. The factors associated with treatment success and the role of chest wall mechanics remain unclear. We investigated the impact of PR on exercise performance in COPD with severe hyperinflation. Methods: We evaluated 22 COPD patients (age, 66 ± 7 years; FEV1 = 37.1 ± 11.8% of predicted) who underwent eight weeks of aerobic exercise and strength training. Before and after PR, each patient also performed a six-minute walk test and an incremental cycle ergometer test. During the latter, we measured chest wall volumes (total and compartmental, by optoelectronic plethysmography) and determined maximal workloads. Results: We observed significant differences between the pre- and post-PR means for six-minute walk distance (305 ± 78 vs. 330 ± 96 m, p < 0.001) and maximal workload (33 ± 21 vs. 39 ± 20 W; p = 0.02). At equivalent workload settings, PR led to lower oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production (VCO2), and minute ventilation. The inspiratory (operating) rib cage volume decreased significantly after PR. There were 6 patients in whom PR did not increase the maximal workload. After PR, those patients showed no significant decrease in VCO2 during exercise, had higher end-expiratory chest wall volumes with a more rapid shallow breathing pattern, and continued to experience symptomatic leg fatigue. Conclusions: In severe COPD, PR appears to improve oxygen consumption and reduce VCO2, with a commensurate decrease in respiratory drive, changes reflected in the operating chest wall volumes. Patients with severe post-exercise hyperinflation and leg fatigue might be unable to improve their maximal performance despite completing a PR program.

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/rehabilitation; Exercise therapy; Respiratory therapy.

To evaluate handgrip strength (HGS) as a diagnostic tool for frailty risk in elderly patients with asthma, as well as to investigate the prevalence of frailty in this population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 96 patients = 60 years of age diagnosed with moderate to severe asthma and treated at a tertiary referral center in Brazil. We measured HGS using a calibrated hydraulic hand dynamometer. We used a frailty scale and the AUC to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the HGS test. Results: The median age of participants was 67 years. Most (78%) were women and non-White (91%) of low socioeconomic status. HGS identified those at risk for frailty, with an AUC of 71.6% (61.5-80.4%; p < 0.002), as well as a sensitivity of 73.58% and a specificity of 67.53%, on the basis of a cutoff of = 19 kgf. Conclusions: HGS appears to be a simple, reliable tool for clinicians to determine frailty risk in older asthma patients in a point-of-care setting.

Keywords: Hand strength; Frailty; Asthma; Aged.

Objective: To compare a once-daily long-acting β2 agonist (indacaterol 150 µg) with a once-daily long-acting anticholinergic (tiotropium 5 µg) in terms of their effects on exercise endurance (limit of tolerance, Tlim) in patients with moderate COPD. Secondary endpoints were their effects on lung hyperinflation, exercise-related dyspnea, and daily-life dyspnea. Methods: This was a randomized, single-blind, crossover pilot study involving 20 patients (mean age, 60.9 ± 10.0 years; mean FEV1, 69 ± 7% of predicted). Spirometric parameters, Transition Dyspnea Index scores, Tlim, and exertional dyspnea were compared after three weeks of each treatment (with a one-week washout period between treatments). Results: Nineteen patients completed the study (one having been excluded because of COPD exacerbation). Improvement in Tlim from baseline tended to be greater after treatment with tiotropium than after treatment with indacaterol (96 ± 163 s vs. 8 ± 82 s; p = 0.06). Tlim significantly improved from baseline after treatment with tiotropium (having increased from 396 ± 319 s to 493 ± 347 s; p = 0.010) but not after treatment with indacaterol (having increased from 393 ± 246 to 401 ± 254 s; p = 0.678). There were no differences between the two treatments regarding improvements in Borg dyspnea scores and lung hyperinflation at "isotime" and peak exercise. There were also no significant differences between treatments regarding Transition Dyspnea Index scores (1.5 ± 2.1 vs. 0.9 ± 2.3; p = 0.39). Conclusions: In patients with moderate COPD, tiotropium tends to improve Tlim in comparison with indacaterol. No significant differences were observed between the two treatments regarding their effects on lung hyperinflation, exercise-related dyspnea, and daily-life dyspnea. Future studies, including a larger number of patients, are required in order to confirm our findings and explore mechanistic explanations. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01693003 [http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/])

Keywords: Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive; Exercise; Bronchodilator agents.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the outcomes and explore predictors of intubation and mortality in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 treated with CPAP delivered via a helmet interface and light sedation. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving patients with COVID-19-related ARDS who received CPAP using a helmet developed in Brazil (ELMOT), associated with a light sedation protocol in a pulmonology ward. Demographic, clinical, imaging, and laboratory data, as well as the duration and response to the ELMO-CPAP sessions, were analyzed. Results: The sample comprised 180 patients. The intubation avoidance rate was 72.8%. The lack of necessity for intubation was positively correlated with younger age, > 24-h continuous HELMET-CPAP use in the first session, < 75% pulmonary involvement on CT, and ROX index > 4.88 in the second hour. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.9%, whereas those in the nonintubated and intubated groups were 3.0% and 61.2%, respectively. Advanced age increased the mortality risk by 2.8 times, escalating to 13 times post-intubation. Conclusions: ELMO-CPAP with light sedation in a pulmonology ward was successful in > 70% of patients with moderate to severe ARDS due to COVID-19. Younger age, pulmonary involvement, ROX index, and prolonged first Helmet-CPAP session duration were associated with no need for intubation. Older age and intubation are associated with mortality.

Keywords: Respiratory distress syndrome; COVID-19; Continuous positive airway pressure; helmets ; Dexmedetomidine.

Objective: To evaluate the association between degree of asthma control and health-related quality of life in patients with moderate or severe asthma. Methods: This was a descriptive observational study involving 59 outpatients with moderate or severe asthma under treatment at the Asthma Outpatient Clinic of the Federal University of Ceará Walter Cantídio University Hospital, in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil. The patients were evaluated regarding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as well as spirometric parameters. The asthma control status was assessed using the asthma control test (ACT), and quality of life was assessed using the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Results: The mean age of the patients was 55.0 ± 12.4 years, and 76.3% were female. The ACT score showed statistically significant negative correlations with all SGRQ scores: total (r = −0.72); symptoms (r = −0.78); activity (r = −0.67); and impact (r = −0.68). Multiple regression analysis showed that the most robust predictive variables for SGRQ total score were ACT score (coefficient = −3.18; 95% CI: −4.14 to −2.23) and duration of disease (coefficient = −0.29; 95% CI: −0.54 to −0.03). The ACT score also explained the linear variation of the SGRQ domains: symptoms (coefficient = −3.41; 95% CI: −4.45 to −2.37); activity (coefficient = −3.07; 95% CI: −4.57 to −1.57); and impact (coefficient = −2.68; 95% CI: −3.71 to −1.65). Conclusions: The degree of asthma control appears to have a significant impact on health-related quality of life.

Keywords: Asthma/prevention and control; Quality of life; Questionnaires.

To describe and characterize local adverse effects (in the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx) associated with the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in patients with moderate or severe asthma. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving a convenience sample of 200 asthma patients followed in the Department of Pharmaceutical Care of the Bahia State Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis Control Program Referral Center, located in the city of Salvador, Brazil. The patients were ≥ 18 years of age and had been using ICSs regularly for at least 6 months. Local adverse effects (irritation, pain, dry throat, throat clearing, hoarseness, reduced vocal intensity, loss of voice, sensation of thirst, cough during ICS use, altered sense of taste, and presence of oral candidiasis) were assessed using a 30-day recall questionnaire. Results: Of the 200 patients studied, 159 (79.5%) were women. The mean age was 50.7 ± 14.4 years. In this sample, 55 patients (27.5%) were using high doses of ICS, with a median treatment duration of 38 months. Regarding the symptoms, 163 patients (81.5%) reported at least one adverse effect, and 131 (65.5%) had a daily perception of at least one symptom. Vocal and pharyngeal symptoms were identified in 57 (28.5%) and 154 (77.0%) of the patients, respectively. The most commonly reported adverse effects were dry throat, throat clearing, sensation of thirst, and hoarseness. Conclusions: Self-reported adverse effects related to ICS use were common among the asthma patients evaluated here.

Keywords: Asthma; Glucocorticoids; Administration, inhalation; Pharmaceutical services.

Objective: To determine the characteristics of individuals with asthma who are responsive to aerobic training. Methods: This post hoc analysis of pooled data from previous randomized controlled trials involved 101 individuals with moderate to severe asthma who underwent aerobic training. Participants underwent a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test and completed the Asthma Control Questionnaire and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire before and after a 24-session aerobic training program. Better and worse responders to aerobic training were identified by cluster analysis. Results: Two clusters were identified according to the improvement in peak VO2 after aerobic training (better and worse responders). Characteristics of the better responder group were being older, being female, having higher BMI, and having higher cardiac reserve at baseline when compared with the worse responder group. Also, better responders had worse clinical control, worse quality of life, and lower physical capacity at baseline. After training, worse responders, in comparison with better responders, showed half the improvement in ?peak VO2 (7.4% vs. 13.6%; 95% CI, -12.1 to -0.92%; p < 0.05) and worse asthma control. A weak, negative, but significant association (r = -0.35; p < 0.05) was observed between clinical control and aerobic fitness only in the better responder group. Both groups showed significant improvement in quality of life. Conclusions: Obese individuals with worse exercise capacity, clinical control, and quality of life showed improvement with aerobic training. Moreover, worse responders also improved with training, but to a lesser extent.

Keywords: Asthma; Exercise therapy; Cluster analysis; Status Asthmaticus; Quality of Life; Rehabilitation.

Objective: To investigate the extent to which exercise is associated with symptoms in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: We included subjects with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > 30 events/h who completed validated sleep and exercise questionnaires. We compared symptom frequency/scores between exercisers and nonexercisers, adjusting for the usual confounders. Results: The sample included 907 nonexercisers and 488 exercisers (mean age, 49 ± 14 years; mean AHI, 53 ± 20 events/h; 81% men). Nonexercisers and exercisers differed significantly in terms of obesity (72% vs. 54%), the mean proportion of sleep in non-rapid eye movement stage 3 sleep (9 ± 8% vs. 11 ± 6%), and tiredness (78% vs. 68%). Nonexercisers had a higher symptom frequency/scores and poorer sleep quality. Adjustment for exercise weakened the associations between individual symptoms and the AHI, indicating that exercise has a mitigating effect. In binary logistic models, exercise was associated with approximately 30% lower adjusted questionnaire1 score > 2, tiredness; poor-quality sleep, unrefreshing sleep, and negative mood on awakening. Although the odds of an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score > 10 were lower in exercisers, that association did not withstand adjustment for confounders. Conclusions: Exercise is associated with lower frequency/intensity of symptoms in patients with severe OSA. Because up to one third of patients with severe OSA might exercise regularly and therefore be mildly symptomatic, it is important not to rule out a diagnosis of OSA in such patients.

Keywords: Sleep apnea syndromes; Exercise; Sleepiness; Polysomnography.

Objective: To analyze the effects of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), with 30% of FiO2 and in compressed air, used during the performance of submaximal physical activity on an ergometric treadmill. Materials and methods: Nine male individuals with COPD were submitted to physical activity on the ergometric treadmill using CPAP with 30% FiO2 .The authors evaluated the behavior of the spirometric parameters, the forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) before and after physical activity, the respiratory frequency (f), the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), the cardiac frequency (cf), the systolic arterial pressure (SAP), and the diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) at rest and during physical activity. Results and conclusion: Results have shown that, when using CPAP in both situations analyzed, there has been an increase in the FVC and a decrease in f and in cf with statistically significant difference (α = 0.05). SaO2 has showned a significantly higher mean when CPAP was used with 30% of FiO2 (α = 0.05). The FEV1, the SAP and DAP have maintained the same value in the statistical analyses.

Keywords: Exercise test. Forced expiratory volume. Vital capacity.

Objective: Preoperative functional evaluation is central to optimizing the identification of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are candidates for surgery. The minute ventilation/carbon dioxide output (VE/VCO2) slope has proven to be a predictor of surgical complications and mortality. Pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PRPs) could influence short-term outcomes in patients with COPD undergoing lung resection. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of a PRP on the VE/VCO2 slope in a cohort of patients with COPD undergoing lung resection for NSCLC. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 25 consecutive patients with COPD participating in a three-week high-intensity PRP prior to undergoing lung surgery for NSCLC, between December of 2015 and January of 2017. Patients underwent complete functional assessment, including spirometry, DLCO measurement, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Results: There were no significant differences between the mean pre- and post-PRP values (% of predicted) for FEV1 (61.5 ± 22.0% vs. 62.0 ± 21.1%) and DLCO (67.2 ± 18.1% vs. 67.5 ± 13.2%). Conversely, there were significant improvements in the mean peak oxygen uptake (from 14.7 ± 2.5 to 18.2 ± 2.7 mL/kg per min; p < 0.001) and VE/VCO2 slope (from 32.0 ± 2.8 to 30.1 ± 4.0; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results indicate that a high-intensity PRP can improve ventilatory efficiency in patients with COPD undergoing lung resection for NSCLC. Further comprehensive prospective studies are required to corroborate these preliminary results.

Keywords: Carcinoma, non-small-cell lung; Pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive/rehabilitation; Carbon dioxide/metabolism; Oxygen consumption/physiology; Risk assessment.